Suspensory



G. S. PETERKIN 'SUSPENSORY Filed March 8. 922

INVENTOR 603 Jeazmnn 1272/1011 BY I ATTORNEY rammed Aug. 30, 1921.

- uNiTEosT rEs 1,641,094 P A'TJENT -o,1="r c 1=:.

.n :GUzYSI-IEARMANLBETERKIN, OF.SEATTLE,- WASHINGTON.

, sUsPENsoRY.

Application'filed March .8, 1922; Serial No. 541,893.

My invention relates to the art of suspensories.

In general the means for supporting the genital organs of man may be;' divided into two classes as respects their use, namely, first, suspensories for said organs'when the wearer is well or on occasions when engaged in. athletic activitiesthis type of suspensory is usually called an athletic support or jock strap, and second, when employed for bandage retaining purposes when the wearer is receiving medical treatments.

Both present'problems, but the latter use is much the more] ditficult,.rendered so by the anatomical construction and nature of adjusted by the wearer." Thislretention in exact position cannotbe obtained bymerely holding the suspensory in "position by subjectingv the supporting bands orstraps to great tension. 'Not only does the comfort of the wearer forbid any such easy solution of the'problem but such an apparatus would tend to excite the "organ with'the accommust be noconstriction ofI'the-parts'in ques- I tion under any circumstances; first, because any constriction of the penis will prevent the escape in gonorrhea ofisaid discharge. .The

. infected portionoriginally, is confinedlto the anterior portion of the'urethra. and comp'arativelyp easily cured; But constriction causes the dam'medup dlscha-rge mattercon 'taining active "infectious germs to extend backwardlyalongthe mucous membrane of the urethra to the posterior urethra, and prostate, seminal vesicles, etc., and by infecting these organs, complicate the disease and lengthen the duration of the treatment. Again, constriction also interferes with the blood supply to the parts in question, preventing the supplying of repairing elements as well as the removing of the waste products.

Manifestly, the suspensory must in all events prevent constriction and yet. the dressings and bandages'must be retained in position. At the same time, thesuspensory must be so constructed as to permit of its being thoroughly cleaned and kept. strictly sanitary. Furthermore, the suspensory must be readily adjustable to different sizes of dressingsand parts in question. Moreover, it is important to combine the two uses of the device, that is, to include with the use of, bandage retaining, the function of an athletic support, ie., a support for the wearer in health and as such it is important to eliminate the inconvenience inherent in genital supporters (commonly called jock straps) of common practice design, of dist-urbing the clothing 'orthe supporter in order to urinate.

These conditions, further supplemented herein below, are not met by the devices of the class described of common practice design, and it is in'general the object of my inventionto provide a suspensory which will satisfy; all these requirements as well as others'hereinafter described andinherent in p the "construction and which will overcome the objections to the devices of. common practicedesign.

--A'p.rimary' object of my invention is to provide a suspensory which will remain positively in its proper anatomical position when arranged by the wearer. Y mary' objectof my invention is to provide a"suspensory.which will not cause constriction'of the parts in question and will keep the penis pendant. Again, a primary object ofmyinvention-is to provide a suspensory which is adjustable to different sizes of organs, to different sizes of dressings, either wet or dry, and which is sanitary and capable of being easily cleaned. .The above-mentioned objects-of my invention together with others inherent in the same are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same "being Another primerely a preferred exemplary form of emtill position;

Fig. 3 is a view of the slit pocket disassocialed from the suspcnsory; and

Fig. -lis an enlarged view of the pubic shield and scrotum sac-h portions of the device.

The scrotum saclt 5, preferably constructed of open and net-like material, is secured along its upper edge ii to an alnloi'umal and pubic shield T to which is secured an abdominal belt 8 having a buckle 9 by means of which the same may be relcusabiy secured. Thigh straps 10, preferably of lint bai'uls to prevent chafing, are secured to a. posterior portion of the sack 5 and caused to extend to the alnloininal and pubic shield 7 (or if preferred the same may extend to the belt 8); such a strap provided on each side and arch is provided with an elastic end portion 11 to provide suflicient play to prevent slipping of the support and yet prev-cut interference with the free movements of the limbs of the wearer. Purse strings 12 are provided to extend along the ed 'e of said such 5 and caused to extend through the shield at 13. An opening ll, preferably rectangular in shape is provided in part in said pubic shield 7 and in part in said sack 5.

A slit pocket 15 is composed of an inner V-shapcd member or llap 1t and a triangular member or outer flap 17. Said V- shaped flap has its upper extremities l8 and 10 secured to the upper portions of the ab dolninal and pubic shield 7 and has the por tion which lies opposite to the base or bottom portion of the opening l lsecured by sewing or otherwise to the said bottom portion of said opening ll. lVhen the pocket is formed out of a single blank of material a small triangular piece is preferably cut out to form a. slight pucker and hence the triangular member 17 may be sewed along the lateral edge portion 21 to the similar edge of the inner V-shaped flap 16. The free corner of the outer flap is preferably provided with a. strap 9' having a. plurality of button holes 23 whereby it may be secured to the shield 7 by means of a button or by other well known fastening means. If desired a snap or safety pin means 25 may be provided lDtOllTlQdlt'll'Q. the length of the edge- 26 to hold and retain the dressing in place. A snap 27 or like well known fastening; means is preferably provided in the scrotum suck to engage with a cooperating member carried by the inner V-shaped flap 16 whereby thelowcr part of the slit pocket may be held in extended position, particularly when employed as an athletic sup 'uort.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

Abdominal and pubic shield 7 is relatively of large size extending from the pubic bone region up to the spine of the crest of the iliuin and has diverging lateral edges to coincide with the inguinal creases. This shield is made thus extensive and of said form in order that it will maintain itself positively in position as originally located and adjusted, the spherical form, together with other anatomical features of this portion of the body 1L) sting in accomplishing this end. The testicles are supported in the suck 5 and the purse strings 12 are drawn or tightened to such degree that the sack 5 is adjusted to proper position and comfort ol the wearer. The penis is caused to ex lend through the o iieniug l-l which is made of l:n' .e e size particularly vertically so as to permit of adjustment of the device to the wearer of d'll'crent proportions and also to positively be free of causing any constriction and irritation of the organ. In maintaining the device in position, reliance is placed particularly upon the size and shape of the pubic shield and not; upon the penis shaft i'iperaling in conjunction with a small penis opening as occlu's in devices of common practice. The importal'icc of thus freeing this organ of functioniiug to keep the device positioned resides in the avoiding of irritilting; the same or any parts that may have been. operated upon or in the avoidii'ig of causing erections. The latter in all events must be carefully avoided be 'ausc they increase congestion of the inflamed urethra in of gonorrhea or m'cthral infection. They also aggravate and complicate the dis ease by stretching the inflamed membrane, causing it. to crack and thus permitting the infecting bacteria to enter the deeper structures and possibly the circulation. By

congestion is meant retention of blood, that is. prevention of outl'low of blood from an infected area,-intcrfercncc with free circulation. This interference prevents the lighting); forces of the body. the white blood cells, ctc., which. attach and destroy the bacteria, from not only coming to the attack, but prevent the blood from cariyinp away waste products and bringing up material for repair.

The providing of a large size penis openinc: 4: in conjunction with a large size a dominal and pubic shield T operates to avoid constrictioin a result which. must positively be achieved in a properly designed device of the class in question. constriction causes congestion and stagn'iation of the blood in the penis, and hence incrcmses inflan'm'iation and prevents healing. The opening 1ft, un-

less held firmly in place, will cause constriction by slipping from one-side to the other or upand down since the penis at itsbase, that is, at the pubes, is stationary. The relatively large sized openingguards against such result and it evidences that reliance is not herein had upon the penis shaft to maintain the device in position. However, the large size of this opening renders it possible for one of the testicles to slip out of the sack 5 and through said opening thereby causing constriction of the blood vessels of the testicles and swelling of this organ, unless the device is held tightly against the pubes. It is essential, therefore, that the opening 14: be held in place when once adjusted and the means herein employed to accomplish'this result is the size and form of the abdominal and pubic shield which fits snugly over the pubesand also extends so high upon the abdomen that the abdominal belt 8 is just above the spine and crest of the ilium which prevents the slipping down of the abdominal belt. This region covered by i the abdominal and pubic shield is herein referred to as the pubic region; The anatomical structures of the portion of the body in 7 question cooperate with the belt, the size and form of the abdominal and pubic shield and the thigh straps in preventing the opening 14 from moving from the proper position.

A suspensory constructed in accordance with my invention utilizes the force of gravity by letting the penis hang down fully pendant, thereby allowing free drainage of the waste products from the infected area. This slit pocket for holding the penis is made with the inner and outer flaps 16 and 17, hereinabove described, and it will be noted since the said construction involves the absence of closed corners, (see Fig. 3), permits complete exposure of the interior and allows it to be kept thoroughly clean by making it extremely easy to frequently and completely remove the cotton dressings infected with'the discharge and so forth, and

this withoutcontaminating the fingers which can not be avoided if theifingers must be pushed down into a closed pocket in the act of removing such dressings. The length and breadth of the slit pocket is such that it will hold dressings loosely in place, permit drainage, and yet prevent the dressings slipping out of place and so allowing the discharge to soil suspensory and clothing.

With the slit pocket of the relatively large size as herein indicated and shape, the outlet or mouth of the penis is not obstructed by wearing dry cotton close up to the meatus. By attaching the flap to 'the slit portion with a safety pin instead of a button, the safety pin will hold a moist dressing loosely in place, yet far enough from the meatus not. to prevent the discharge from escaping from the same to the dressing.

This-safety pin permits adjustment of the flaps so that dressings containing antiseptive of the amount and character of dress F ings and the size of the organ.

Support is given'the penis and testicles by "tightening the purse strings so that the same are held in place. These willzsnugly pull the testicles in position, but by the counter-pull of the thigh straps 10 and the firmly fitting abdominal and pubic shield 7 will at the same time prevent the purse strings from constricting the base of the scrotum and interfering with the blood supply to the testicles. These purse strings permit adjustmentof the suspensory to all'size scrotums, pull the testicles well up in place, hold them securely and prevent congestion, especially when varicocele is present, thus lessening the possibility of infecting germs,

especially the germ of gonorrhea, in the canal, going to the testicle.

In cases of circumcision or genital sores the use of the suspensory as a bandage retainer will on accountof size of slit pocket permit not only moist dressings to be used in sufficient quantity, but will permit them to be used Without constricting the organ. Moreover, it will permit them to be readily changed when soiled by the act of urination. The snap 25 along with the other features of construction renders this suspensory useful as an ordinary support or jock strap since it eliminates the inconvenience of disturbing the clothing or the suspensory in order to urinate.

Obviously changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and the arrangement of parts of my invention, except as indicated one lateral edge whereby when said outer 'fiap is in open position, corners in said pocket are eliminated, and means disposed along the other lateral edge to releasably secure said flaps.

2. A suspensory embodying a pubic shield the same being of relatively large size and having converging lateral edges whereby the same covers, conforms to and'lies flat upon the pubic region, a scrotum sack secured along one portion of its edge to said shield having a relatively large sized penis opening of'rectangular shape formed partly therein and partly in the shield, said opening; having its longitudinal axis disposed vertieally: an abdominal belt; attached to said shield; puijse strings extending about said saeks edges; thigh straps connected to said sack having elastic end portions; a. slit; pocket consisting of an inner V-shaped flap and an outer triangularly shaped flap the two being integral along one lateral edge and iii-ans to releasahly secure said flaps along the other lateral edge, that portion of said inner flap lying opposite the bottom edge of said penis opening in the naelc being secured to said sack and the upper portions of said inner flap being seel'u'ed to said pubic shield, the lower eornei' of said POUlIGiZ extending well below said penis opening; and means to eonneet said. bottom portion of said pocket to naid Stit'li.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th dav of February, A. D. 1922.

GU Y SHEA Rh [AN PETE RKIN 

